Trying to change the wind: An analysis of lobbyism in the wind power debate

Abstract

The wind power issue is a heavily debated issue in the Norwegian media, social media and in the public. Over the last few years, we have seen people demonstrating, gather on social media in large groups and discuss on television. This thesis wants to see what the experiences of the people that try to influence this issue are. The thesis bases itself in interviews with different actors from influential groups in the wind power issue. Through these interviews we learn about how they try to influence the issue, and what kind of possibilities they have in influencing the decisions made in the wind power issue. We also explore what possibilities and limitations social media brings in the debate. The thesis find that groups have different possibilities to influence decisions based on what kind of group they are, where some have direct contact with politicians, and other do not. It also finds that even though social media provides possibilities for some groups and diversifies the actors in the issue, but also facilitates the spread of hostility, fake news and diversifies the debate arenas.